Brown Distributing, a Florida-based beer wholesaler that sells products from more than 60 U.S. craft breweries across the entire state, is in the process of selling the rights to a variety of craft brands in some of its central and northern markets. The company, which lists beer, wine, spirits and non-alcoholic products from more than 130 suppliers on its website, began informing craft brewery owners of its decision to transfer their brands on Monday night.
The Brewers Association (BA) today released its annual rankings of the top 50 U.S. breweries based on 2015 sales volumes, and once again Ballast Point Brewing emerged as the biggest mover amongst the industry’s largest craft producers. Climbing 20 places from 31 on the “Top Craft Brewing Companies” list, Ballast Point is now ranked as the 11th largest U.S. craft brewery, according to the BA. Although the organization’s official production figures will not be made available until next month, the San Diego-based brewery had projected 2015 volumes to be about 290,000 barrels.
Narragansett Beer CEO Mark Hellendrung, the man who resurrected the iconic 125-year old lager brand in 2005, is making good on his pledge to bring production of the beer back to Rhode Island. In an open letter to drinkers posted on his company’s website, Hellendrung wrote that ‘Gansett was “coming home” to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, about 20 minutes from where the company was founded in 1890.
A pair of former Arizona beer distributor executives today announced the launch of a new consultancy aimed at helping U.S. craft brewers and wholesalers with strategic business planning. Kimberly Clements, the former owner and CEO of Tucson-based Golden Eagle Distributors before the company was sold to competitor Hensley Beverage in January, and her former vice president of sales and marketing, Daniel Lust, have formed PINTS LLC.
Truly Spiked & Sparkling, a new hard seltzer label produced by craft beer maker Boston Beer Company, has hit liquor store shelves. The company, best known for its Samuel Adams, Angry Orchard, Twisted Tea and Coney Island brands, is expected to make a formal product announcement next Tuesday. Rollouts in 15 additional states — New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, Colorado, New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Kansas and Maryland — are also planned or underway, according to the brand’s Facebook page.
Sun King Brewery president and co-founder Omar Robinson will sell a portion of his stake in the business when he retires next month. Simultaneously, Sun King will also turn over minority interest to incoming president Robert Whitt, who will “buy a portion of Omar’s stock over the next few years,” co-founder Clay Robinson told Brewbound. Oregon’s Cascade Brewing, meanwhile, has appointed Tim Larrance as its new vice president of sales and marketing.
Pabst Brewing Company yesterday announced an expanded partnership with C&C Group plc to distribute and sell Pabst brands throughout the UK and Ireland. Per the agreement, C&C will act as the “exclusive distributor” of several Pabst brands, including its flagship offering, Pabst Blue Ribbon, as well as labels like Lone Star, Schlitz, Old Milwaukee and Ballantine IPA.
Boston Beer Company, the country’s second-largest craft beer producer, recently helped Carnival, the world’s largest cruise ship operator, build a floating microbrewery on-board its new Carnival Vista vessel. In a press statement, Carnival said it worked with Alchemy & Science, Boston Beer’s wholly-owned subsidiary incubator, to launch version 2.0 of its Key West-inspired bar, the Red Frog Pub, which will now also feature a small brewery.
U.S. craft brewers are now shipping nearly half a million barrels of beer around the world, according to the latest Brewers Association (BA) estimates. In a press release, the BA — which represents the interests of small and independent U.S. craft brewers — said American craft beer exports grew 16.3 percent in 2015, to more than 446,000 barrels and a retail value of about $116 million.
Stone Brewing Co. is nearly national and the San Diego-based craft beer maker said it plans to be distributing in all 50 states before the end of 2016. It will move one step closer today, as it rolls out throughout Arkansas, its 42nd state. Michigan’s Bell’s Brewery, meanwhile, said it will continue its 2016 distribution expansion in May with forays into Nebraska, South Dakota and Kansas.
Full Sail Brewing has updated its look. The Oregon-based craft brewery this week unveiled a new logo and refreshed artwork for several of its core brands. Focusing on natural elements and landmarks surrounding the brewery, the rebrand was intended to emphasize Full Sail’s connection to nature and to modernize the company’s image in a market flooded with thousands of craft beer options.
Rotation nation is alive and well. Popular craft-centric chain Yard House, which operates 63 restaurants across the U.S. and boasts an average of 130 tap handles per location, this week announced plans to evolve its beer program by adding nearly 1,600 new draft offerings. Beginning March 28, The California-based on-premise retailer, which recently completed its annual “beer review,” said it would tap an average of 20 to 30 new beers per restaurant.
Total craft growth slowed in 2015 as U.S. craft brewers grew volumes by 13 percent and retail dollars by 16 percent last year, according to new data compiled by trade group The Brewers Association (BA). In its annual report on industry-wide growth, the BA said more than 4,250 small and independent U.S. brewers collectively produced about 24.5 million barrels of beer in 2015.
